This is a reminder for faculty and staff of upcoming benefit application deadlines:

Reduced Health Plan Contributions—Deadline Dec. 5

Faculty and staff may qualify for reduced health plan contributions, based on household income and size. for eligibility guidelines and to apply.

Dependent Care Subsidy—Deadline Dec. 5

The University offers subsidies to help faculty and staff with dependent care expenses. for eligibility information and to apply.

Supplemental Life and Long Term Disability Insurance

Faculty and staff who newly elected or increased supplemental life insurance during Open Enrollment must complete the and return it to MetLife. Those who newly elected long term disability insurance through The Standard must complete a and return it to The Standard. Elections will not go into effect until the application is reviewed and approved by the vendors and Human Resources is notified.

Questions?

Visit the or contact HR Shared Services at hrservice@syr.edu or 315.443.4042.

The University’s annual benefits Open Enrollment period for faculty and staff runs Monday, Nov. 3, through Friday, Nov. 14. This is the annual opportunity for eligible faculty and staff to review their benefits and make changes for the upcoming year, unless a qualifying occurs mid-year.

Visit the for an overview of 2026 benefits, including what’s new for the upcoming year. Review the options carefully to ensure selections meet your needs for the coming year.

Support and Resources Available

• HR Shared Services: Contact 315.443.4042, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments available on request.
• On-Demand Session: Watch a of 2026 benefits anytime.
• In-Person Campus Sessions: with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (Excellus BCBS) and Human Resources representatives to discuss any personal benefit questions. Employee Benefits Assessment Council members will also be available to receive input on the University’s benefits program.
• Excellus BCBS (Medical and Dental Plan Inquiries): Contact 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220), Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Optum Rx (Prescription Inquiries): Contact 866.854.2945 (TTY: 711), available 24/7.
• TIAA (Retirement Planning): Schedule a consultation with a University-dedicated financial consultant at 855.842.CUSE (TTY: 800.842.2755) or online.

How to Enroll

Log in to MySlice Nov. 3-14 to complete your 2026 benefits enrollment. If you do not take action, your 2025 coverage continues automatically, except Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), which require annual enrollment.

Contact HR Shared Services for assistance.

The Office of Human Resources wants to remind faculty and staff about important information and benefit application deadlines that are approaching:

Reduced Health Plan Contributions

Faculty and staff are encouraged to carefully review the expanded eligibility guidelines for 2025 that outline how to apply for reduced payroll contributions for health coverage. Depending on an employee’s household income and size, reduced health plan contributions are available through Schedule B. The application deadline is Dec. 6. For more information and a copy of the application, .

Dependent Care Subsidy

As part of ongoing efforts to support the changing needs of families, the University continues to offer subsidies to faculty and staff to assist with dependent care. The application deadline is Dec. 6. For more information and a copy of the application, .

Supplemental Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance

Faculty and staff who chose to newly elect or increase supplemental life insurance during this year’s annual Open Enrollment period must complete the  and return it to MetLife. Individuals who newly elected long term disability insurance through The Standard must complete a  and return it to The Standard.

Questions? Visit the  or contact HR Shared Services at hrservice@syr.edu or 315.443.4042.

Don’t miss the opportunity to review your benefits!

Open Enrollment is the one time of year when eligible employees can reflect on their benefit options, connect with the variety of available resources to help make the best decisions to meet their needs and enroll for the coming year.

Visit the  to learn more about the University’s benefits for 2025 and the resources available to help you make decisions for next year.

Questions about Open Enrollment, benefits or the enrollment process? Contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042.

The (HR) wants to remind faculty and staff about important information and benefit application deadlines that are approaching.

Reduced Health Plan Contributions

Faculty and staff are encouraged to carefully review the expanded eligibility guidelines for 2024 that outline how to apply for reduced payroll contributions for health coverage. Depending on an employee’s household income and size, reduced health plan contributions are available through Schedule B. The application deadline is Dec. 1. For more information and a copy of the application, .

Dependent Care Subsidy

As part of ongoing efforts to support the changing needs of families, the University continues to offer subsidies to faculty and staff to assist with dependent care. The application deadline is Dec. 1. For more information and a copy of the application, .

Supplemental Life Insurance and Long Term Disability Insurance

Faculty and staff who chose to newly elect or increase supplemental life insurance during this year’s annual Open Enrollment period must complete the  and return it to MetLife. Individuals who newly elected long term disability insurance through The Standard must complete a  and return it to The Standard.

Questions?

Visit the  or contact HR Shared Services at hrservice@syr.edu or 315.443.4042.

The Office of Human Resources encourages eligible individuals to review their benefits on MySlice to ensure their choices are in place for Jan. 1, 2024. This is the one time of year to elect or change coverage for many benefits, unless one experiences a .

More information is available on the  to help answer any questions. If faculty and staff have any additional questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042.

Dear Íø±¬ÃÅ Colleague:

Next Monday, Oct. 30, we will begin the annual Open Enrollment process for employee benefit selections for 2024. Ahead of that, I am writing today to provide an update on how the University plans to address rising health care costs, and what you can expect with regard to employee contributions (the amount deducted from your paycheck for health coverage) for 2024. In addition, there will be no significant plan design changes for 2024 benefit plans.

Each year, Íø±¬ÃÅ reviews its benefits program and makes revisions based on a thorough evaluation, which includes consideration of the impact on our employees and comparisons to the programs of other employers.

This year, the University, like other employers across the state and country, is seeing rising health care costs. We are taking action to limit the impact of these rising trends on our employees’ costs, especially for our lowest paid employees who need assistance the most. The University will increase its subsidy of the lower contributions under Schedule B and expand eligibility for the program so more employees can qualify. Additionally, the University will not increase deductibles, copays or coinsurance for any employee benefit plan and will hold the increases for employee contributions to below local and national trends. These actions are further detailed below:

• Schedule B Expansion and Rates:
  • Eligibility Expansion: The University will expand eligibility for Schedule B, which has lower employee contribution rates, to allow even more employees to qualify. For 2024, those eligible for Schedule B rates will include:
    • Households of one with incomes under $53,250;
    • Households of two with incomes under $74,550;
    • Households of three with incomes under $95,850;
    • Households of four with incomes under $117,150;
    • Households of five with incomes under $138,450; and
    • Households of six or more with incomes under $159,750
  • Reduced Rates: The University will also increase its subsidy of employee contribution rates under Schedule B to keep costs as low as possible for our lower income employees. The increase for Schedule B rates will be 4.5% for all coverage tiers. The monthly employee contribution increase will range from $6 to $19, depending on plan selection.
• Schedule A Rates: Employee contributions toward health care benefits under Schedule A will increase by 6.5% for employee-only coverage and increase by 8.5% for family coverage, which is below state and national trends. This equates to a monthly increase between $10 and $48, depending on plan selection.
• No Benefit Design Changes: For 2024, there will be no increases in deductibles, copays and coinsurance for any benefit plan.
• Contributions for other benefit plans will either decrease or remain flat for 2024, including a 20% decrease in long term disability rates and no increases in dental, vision and life insurance rates.

Please stay tuned for future communications about and do not hesitate to contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Andrew R. Gordon
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer

Open Enrollment, the annual period when eligible employees reflect on their benefit options for the coming year, begins Monday, Oct. 30, and continues through Friday, Nov. 10. This is the one time of year when University faculty and staff may elect or change their coverage for many benefits, unless they experience a mid-year .

All the relevant Open Enrollment information, including benefit plan details and various resources to learn more, are available on the .

Questions About Benefits? Connect With Human Resources (HR)

There are several ways for faculty and staff to connect with resources that will enable them to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones.

• HR Shared Services is available 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315.443.4042 to answer your personal questions. Appointments are available upon request.
• Attend a  to learn about your 2024 benefits.
• Call our dedicated Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) customer service center at 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220) if you need additional assistance regarding your personal medical plan questions. Excellus BCBS has expanded hours of operation Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. With prescription drug questions, contact Optum Rx member services at 866.854.2945 (TTY: 711). They are available to assist you 24/7.
• TIAA offers personalized financial planning services to help you reach your retirement goals. To schedule a meeting with one of the University’s dedicated financial consultants, or for assistance with your account, contact TIAA at 855.842.CUSE (TTY: 800.842.2755) or .

Faculty and staff can enroll online through MySlice from Oct. 30-Nov. 10. If access to a computer for Open Enrollment purposes is needed, the University has a number of  available across campus, or faculty or staff may contact HR Shared Services by phone or email during normal business hours for assistance.

Each year, Open Enrollment provides eligible faculty and staff with the opportunity to:

• Reflect on how they can make the most of benefits offered by the University.
• Connect with benefit professionals and resources to get their questions answered.
• Enroll and make decisions that best meet their needs.

The Office of Human Resources encourages eligible individuals to review their benefits on MySlice to ensure their choices are in place for Jan. 1, 2023. This is the one time of year to elect or change coverage for many benefits, unless one experiences a .

More information is available on the to help answer any questions. If faculty and staff have any additional questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042.

Open Enrollment, the annual period when University employees make their benefit choices for the coming year, continues through Friday, Nov. 11. This is the one time of year when eligible faculty and staff may elect or change their coverage for many benefits, unless they experience a .

There are a variety of resources to support faculty and staff during Open Enrollment:

• HR Shared Services is available 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315.443.4042 to answer your personal questions. Appointments are available upon request.
• Attend a to learn about your 2023 benefits.
• Call our dedicated Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) customer service center at 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220) if you need additional assistance regarding your personal medical plan questions. Excellus BCBS has expanded hours of operation Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For prescription drug questions, contact Optum Rx member services at 866.854.2945 (TTY: 711). They are available to assist you 24/7.

TIAA offers personalized financial planning services to help you reach your retirement goals. To schedule a meeting with one of the University’s dedicated financial consultants, or for assistance with your account, contact TIAA at 855.842.CUSE (TTY: 800.842.2755) or .

Faculty and staff must complete their enrollment by Nov. 11 by logging in to MySlice. If access to a computer for Open Enrollment purposes is needed, the University has a number of available across campus, or faculty and staff may contact HR Shared Services by phone or email during normal business hours for assistance.

With questions about Open Enrollment or benefits, please contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042. Virtual appointments are available upon request.

Don’t miss the opportunity to review your benefits!

Open Enrollment is the one time of year when eligible employees can reflect on their benefit options, connect with the variety of available resources to help make the best decisions to meet their needs and enroll for the coming year.

Visit the to learn more about your 2023 benefits and the resources available to help you make decisions for next year.

Questions about Open Enrollment, benefits or the enrollment process? Contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042.

Dear Colleagues:

Next Monday, we will begin the annual open enrollment process for employee benefit selections for 2023. Ahead of that, I am writing today to provide an update on how the University plans to address rising health care costs, and what you can expect with regard to employee contribution rates (the amount deducted from your paycheck for health coverage) for 2023.

The University is especially mindful of the difficult economic climate right now, and how household budgets are being challenged by inflation’s effect on everyday living, particularly as it relates to housing, food and gas. That is why the University is taking action to limit the impact of health care cost increases on our community members.

Based on the annual algorithm that determines employee contributions, rates were expected to increase this year for some employees well into the double digits. However, after conferring with a selection of deans, faculty, staff and our budget office, the University has made the decision to invest an additional $1 million to offset these rising costs for this year. This action will result in the following:

• Schedule A: Employee contributions toward health care benefits under Schedule A will increase by 4.9% for employee-only coverage and increase by 7.7% for family coverage. This equates to a monthly increase between $7 and $40, depending on plan selection.
• Schedule B:
  • Eligibility Expansion: The University will significantly expand employee eligibility for Schedule B which has lower employee contribution rates. Moving forward for 2023, those eligible for Schedule B rates will include:
    • Households of one with incomes under $50,000;
    • Households of two with incomes under $70,000;
    • Households of three with incomes under $90,000;
    • Households of four or more with incomes under $110,000.
  • Reduced Rates: The University will also increase its subsidy of employee contribution rates under Schedule B to keep costs as low as possible for our lower income employees. The increase for Schedule B rates will be 3.9% for all plan selections. The monthly employee contribution increase will range from $5 to $16, depending on plan selection.
• For 2023, there will be no increases in deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance for any benefit plan.

In addition to this investment to combat increasing health care costs, the University will take the following actions:

• Part-Time Instructors: Under the leadership of Provost Gretchen Ritter, the University will work with Human Resources (HR) and others to explore ways in the future to support and expand health care coverage for our part-time instructors.
• Faculty and Staff Consultation: At the direction of Chancellor Syverud, beginning in the Spring 2023 semester, HR will work with faculty and staff, and through shared governance structures, including the University Senate, to refine how health care benefits are determined in the future.

I recognize this is a challenging time for many members of our community. We will continue to explore ways to expand and strengthen our benefits in the future, while providing immediate support and relief to our faculty and staff. Please stay tuned for future communications about and do not hesitate to contact HR Shared Services at 315.443.4042 or hrservice@syr.edu if you have any urgent questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Andrew R. Gordon
Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer

Open Enrollment, the annual period when eligible employees reflect on their benefit options for the coming year, begins Monday, Oct. 31, and continues through Friday, Nov. 11. This is the one time of year when University faculty and staff may elect or change their coverage for many benefits, unless they experience a mid-year .

All the relevant Open Enrollment information, including benefit plan details and various resources to learn more are available on the .

Questions About Benefits? Connect With Human Resources.

There are several ways for faculty and staff to connect with resources that will enable them to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones.

• HR Shared Services is available 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 315.443.4042 to answer your personal questions. Appointments are available upon request.
• Attend a to learn about your 2023 benefits.
• Call our dedicated Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) customer service center at 800.493.0318 (TTY: 800.662.1220) if you need additional assistance regarding your personal medical plan questions. Excellus BCBS has expanded hours of operation Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. For prescription drug questions, contact Optum Rx member services at 866.854.2945 (TTY: 711). They are available to assist you 24/7.
• TIAA offers personalized financial planning services to help you reach your retirement goals. To schedule a meeting with one of the University’s dedicated financial consultants, or for assistance with your account, contact TIAA at 855.842.CUSE (TTY: 800.842.2755) or .

Faculty and staff can enroll online through MySlice from Oct. 31-Nov. 11. If access to a computer for Open Enrollment purposes is needed, the University has a number of available across campus, or faculty or staff may contact HR Shared Services by phone or email during normal business hours for assistance.